Laura Gardin Fraser - Medals | Medallic Art Collector

Description

The medallion's obverse bears bust of Charles Doolittle Walcott facing right. To left and right, CHARLES - DOOLITTLE / WALCOTT; around bottom, PRECAMBRIAN RESEARCH MEDAL; signed under truncation, LAVRA GARDIN FRASER SCVLPTOR

The reverse bears the picture of a trilobite. On lower half, NATIONAL - ACADEMY / OF / SCIENCES

Charles Doolittle Walcott (1850 - 1927) was a paleontologist, early member of the U.S. Geological Survey, Secretary of the Smithsonian Institute and President of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

The medal, designed in 1931 but first awarded in 1934, is awarded every five years by the National Academy of Sciences for outstanding work in the field of pre-Cambrian and Cambrian life and history. Since 2008, the Walcott Medal and the Stanley Miller Medal are presented alternately, collectively known as the NAS Award in Early Earth and Life Sciences.

The medallion measures 102mm in diameter and was struck in bronze by the Medallic Art Company of New York. No mintage has been reported.

Many thanks to a collector who wishes to remain anonymous for the images of this beautiful medal.

References: MACo 1931-006

Medal Details

This section contains a table of detailed medal information. Currently, I am not aware of any variants of this medal. Please notify me if you come across any or if you find incorrect or missing information.

material	Bronze
edge6	MEDALLIC ART CO. N.Y.
diameter	50.8mm
mintage	unknown

Last modified: Oct 26, 2017 16:33

Description

The plaquette shows George Washington on horseback, facing left; fasces below, to left and right. Above, GEORGE WASHINGTON / 1732 - 1799; between fasces, HE WENT TO WAR / A COLONIAL VIRGINIAN / HE RETURNED A CITIZEN / OF - THE / UNITED - STATES; signed under horse, · LAURA GARDIN FRASER · SCULPTOR ·

The plaquette celebrates George Washington's 200th birthday and appears to be rare.

The plaquette measures 57.5mm x 91.8mm and was struck in bronze by the Medallic Art Company of New York. The reported mintage is 30 pieces in bronze. Additional reference numbers for this plaquette are Baker F904, Hansen 57, Reed 3235, Y-246.

References: MACo 1932-025, Marqusee 169

Medal Details

This section contains a table of detailed medal information. Currently, I am not aware of any variants of this medal. Please notify me if you come across any or if you find incorrect or missing information.

material	Bronze
edge6	MEDALLIC ART CO. N. Y.
dimensions	57.5mm x 91.8mm
weight	194.3g
mintage	unknown

Last modified: Oct 26, 2017 16:19

Description

The medal's obverse bears a flaming torch of leadership, a sword of valor and a laurel wreath of peace; On circumference, UNITED STATES MILITARY ACADEMY / SESQUICENTENNIAL; across, 1802 / 1952 / ©

The reverse shows a spread eagle below a rising sun standing on a shield, clutching arrows, and an inscribed ribbon with legend DUTY / HONOR / COUNTRY / WEST POINT / MDCCCII / USMA. A battle helmet of military service with the rod of authority are superimposed on the shield. On circumference, WEST POINT / DUTY / HONOR / COUNTRY.

This medal was commissioned for the anniversary celebration and distributed free of charge to schools, libraries, and civic groups for several years thereafter.

Laura Gardin Fraser maintained a long and productive relationship with Westpoint. In addition to this medal she designed West Point's Sylvanus Thayer medal in 1957 and. Finally, just before her death, she completed the American History bronze panels at the new library of the United States Military Academy at West Point. She had started working on them in 1935, "for love of country" as she said. Her patience was rewarded in 1964 when the panels were cast in bronze and installed at West Point.

The circular medal measures 50.8mm in diameter and was struck in bronze by the Medallic Art Company of New York. No mintage is reported.

References: MACo 1951-020

Medal Details

This section contains a table of detailed medal information. Currently, I am not aware of any variants of this medal. Please notify me if you come across any or if you find incorrect or missing information.

material	Bronze
edge6	MEDALLIC ART CO. N.Y. BRONZE
diameter	50.8mm
weight	83.3g
mintage	unknown

Last modified: Jan 28, 2018 19:07

Description

The obverse bears a kneeling nude inspecting two pieces of a fossil, hammer on the ground. Legend reads THE / AMERICAN NUMIS - MATIC / SO - CIETY / 1858 / 1958. There reverse bears two artisans at anvil, one holding die with tongs, other holding hammer, winged Pegasus above.

Laura Gradin Fraser wrote in the pamphlet that accompanied the medal:

"When nature petrified the first forms of animal and plant life, Nature made the first dies. The obverse of the American Numismatics Society Centennial Medal shows the potential archeologist, who, having broken a stone asunder, discovers a petrified animal form in one half and in the other a perfect impression of it, or the die."

The Pegasus represents the Arts and it lends inspiration to the artisans who are forging a medal using the simplest of tools.

This is the 48th issue by the American Numismatic Society.

The medal measures 89mm in diameter and was struck by the Medallic Art Company of New York. The reported mintage is 620 pieces in bronze.

Many thanks to the Yale University Art Gallery for permission to use its beautiful images.

References: ANS 48

Medal Details

This section contains a table of detailed medal information. Currently, I am not aware of any variants of this medal. Please notify me if you come across any or if you find incorrect or missing information.

material	Bronze
edge6
diameter	89mm
mintage	620 reported

Last modified: Nov 1, 2017 17:50